Advancing Extended Reality Teaching and Learning Opportunities Across the Disciplines in Higher Education

Abstract

The emergence of Extended Reality (XR) technologies in diverse fields, along with research demonstrating opportunities for innovation in teaching and learning, warrants further exploration. However, investigation into the supports required by instructors for experimentation, design, and deployment of XR technologies is needed. This study explores the benefits and challenges of XR technologies for teaching and learning, and reviews XR pedagogical initiatives at three universities. The research aims to discern strategies to promote and support XR initiatives in higher education, develop best practices for using and integrating XR technologies into university courses, and guide future research into XR technologies in higher education. To develop an empirical understanding of the opportunities and challenges faced by instructors using XR technologies, we performed a thematic analysis of sixteen semi-structured interviews to capture insights from instructors’ experiences. We found that instructors were cognizant of the many benefits associated with XR use in terms of experiential learning, making learning content more accessible, and the potential for its application. However, the findings also highlight the lack of guidance and support available to instructors in the implementation of these technologies in educational contexts. Our results provide recommendations for future institutional supports that could advance XR and expand the current teaching and learning opportunities available to instructors and students.